Stacking machine



July 16 1945 s. -F'. MATHERs 2,403,942

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STAGKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 BY M0676),

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STACKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 8, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 FIB@ INVENTOR.

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BY Mdc/(r om/ f A70/e NIW Jully E946', s. P. MATHERS .294@399432 STACKING MACHNE Filed Feb. 8, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented July 16, 1946 STACKING MACHINE Stephen P. Mathers, Philadelphia, Pa., assigner copartnership Application February, 1945, Serial No. 576,887L

5 Claims;

My invention relates to a new and improved stacking machine.

While the invention relates particularly to the stacking of trays which are used in connection with the manufacture of candies, it is` not limited to any specic purpose, or tostacking any specific articles.

The invention relates tothe type of Amachine which Yhas two vertical endlesschains, which have laterallyalined front ascending vertical runs, and laterally alined rear descending vertical runs.

Some of the objects of `my invention `are to provideY said laterally alined runs with holders for supporting the trays or other articles, said holders having supporting, members which `are moved laterally inwardly towards each other and laterally outwardly away from each other; to move said supporting members laterally inwardly towards each other, into operative position, below a. loading station which is provided at the front ascending runs, so that said supporting members'` nick the object oli" the loading device; to stack the objects on `a suitable support by unloading said objects from the rear descending runs, each object being released from its holders by the next.

preceding object in the stack; to release the objects fromv the holders by outwardly laterally moving said` supporting members away from each other, and to operate a control by one of saidA outwardly moving supporting members, .whereby the pile of stacked objects is moved automatically' laterally away from the/stacking station; and to provide a machine of simple and eiiicient design.

Numerous additional objects and advantages of my invention will be stated in the annexed description and drawings,v which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of theiirst embodiment'of the improved machine.

Fig. 2'is'a side elevation of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3'-3 of Fig. 1, showinga slight modification, in which each conveyer chain has front andrear vertical runs,l a

top convex run and a bottom horizontal run; said' ably locked in saidoperative position and they remain locked until'said supporting members are automatically moved'j'laterally outwardly away from each other, to release the respective tray, at'

clamped to a respective link of Ia conveyer chain.4

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the supporting member which is shown in Fig. 6, detached from.

its holder or mount.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the holder or mount of the second embodiment, .detached from` its supporting. member.

Fig. 11,.is a front elevation of Fig. 10.

Figs. 12 and 13 are respectivelysectional views` on the lines |2'l2and l3.-l3of`Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the coupling member which connects a holder or mount of the first embodiment, pivotally to a respective link of a. conveyer chain, so that each holder can turn.

transversely, to-and-fro, relative to the respective link, about an axis which is parallel to the4 plane of Fig; 1.. l

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of Fig. 14, taken at the right of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 shows a modification of Fig. 14. 'This modification is used in the second embodiment:.

Fig, 1.7 is a side elevation of the trigger ofthe..

second embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a detail top View, taken along the line l-l of Fig.4, which shows the means for connecting a coupling member rigidly to the re-lr spectivelink. It also shows the.cam.-members at the setting station, whereby the supporting members are moved laterally inwardly towardseach other, into operativepositionvto pick upatray or other object.

Fig. 19 is a side elevation'of a supportingmember of the first embodiment. Y

Fig 20. is a perspective viewof one of the clamping springs which are used to clamp each traybetwcen the respective supporting rmembers.

Fig. 21 is a perspective View of 'themount or` holder for a pair of supporting members, in the first embodiment.

the broken-line position, and which can be turned to the full-line operative position to abut contact Sb.

Fig. l shows a frame which comprises uprights I and a base 2.

A lateral shaft I8 is turnably mounted in bear- Top sprockets ings which are xed to uprights I.

I9 and I9A are xed to shaft I8.

Identical conveyer chains 20 and 20A have their Y respective top convex runs meshing respectively with sprockets I9 and ISA. Each chain 23 and 20A has a front, vertical, ascending run, and a rear, vertical, descending run. The vertical runs of each conveyer chain are located in the same transverse plane. The respective transverse planes in which said conveyor chains 20 and 20A operate, are parallel. Fig. 2 shows that each conveyer chain meshes with additional sprockets 22 and 23, so that each conveyer chain has a bottom inclined run 2l, which is inclined downwardly from front to rear. This is an optional detail, because Fig. 3 shows that the bottom run of each conveyer chain is horizontal.

Fig. 1 shows a pair of laterally alined mounts or holders 24. Each holder 24 is turnably connected t a link of its respective conveyer chain, so that each holder 24 can turn to-and-fro, about a lateral axis which is parallel to the axis of shaft I8. The pairs of laterally alined holders 24 are provided along the conveyer chains 20 and A, at equally spaced intervals. Each holder 24 is located laterally inwardly, relative to the respective conveyer chain. As shown in Fig. 5, each holder 24 is provided with a pair of supporting rods or members 32, upon which a respective part of the respective tray is supported. Each tray T is supported upon four respective members 32. Each tray T is therefore always held horizontal, in the front and rear runs of the chains and also at the top runs of said conveyer chains. Each tray T and its two holders 24 can pass freely between the sprockets I9 and ISA, above the shaft I8, so that each tray T is maintained in a horizontal position, in the top runs of the chains 23 and 23A, as well as in the vertical runs of said chains.

Fig. 5 shows that each holder 24 is of triangular shape,

As further shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each holder has a top bearing-hub 28, which has a cylindrical bore which is parallel to the axis of shaft I8.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a coupling member 25, which is part of the means for fixing a holder 24 to a respective link of a conveyer chain. Each said coupling member 25 has a cylindrical shank 2l, which has a reduced and threaded end-portion 29. Each cylindrical shank 21 fits in the cylindrical bore of a respective bearing-hub 28, so that each holder 24 can turn freely on its associated shank 21. This turnable assembly is maintained by a nut 30, as shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, each said coupling member, 25 has a bar-like body. Said bar-like body has parallel front and rear planar faces. The chains are provided at spaced intervals with links, each of which consists of two angular members 26B, as shown in Fig. 18. Each said angular 4 member 25B has a leg 2SA. Each leg 25A is clamped to the body of a respective coupling member 25, by a nut and bolt, as shown in Fig. 18. The shank of each bolt is located in a respective bore 25 of said bar-like body.

Each pair of members 25B has parallel legs 23C, which are connected by a pivot member 26D, which serves as a pivot connecting member for the next adjacent link of the conveyer chain.

An anti-friction roller R is turnably mounted oneach pivot member 26D. The conveyer chain is of standard construction, so that further detailed description is unnecessary.

In this embodiment, each coupling member 25 is offset slightly relative to the pivot pins which connect the respective flink, to the two next adjacent links. Each conveyer chain is under suf cient tension, so that such slight offset is not disadvantageous. Other standard chains are known, whereby the axis of shank 2l could be located on the vertical median line of the respective link, and I can use such standard alternative construction.

As shown in Fig. 4, a supplemental bearing member 341s fixed to each holder 24. As shown in Fig. 23, each supplemental bearing member 34 has holes 32d, throughr which the Shanks of respective screws can be passed, in order to x each supplemental bearing member 34 to its holder 24.

Each supplemental bearing member 34 has respective cylindrical bores 32B, which are laterally alined with respective cylindrical bores of the bottom flange 3| of the respective holder 24.

Two supporting rods or members 32 are slidably associated with each holder 24. Each supporting rod 32 is laterally slidable to-and-fro.

As shown in Fig. 19, each cylindrical rod 32 has a rounded end 32C, an integral cylindrical collar 33, and a reduced supporting end-portion 32A, which is also cylindrical, save Where it is cut away to provide the bottom planar face 31. This cutting away gives greater clearance, during the stacking.

The cylindrical collars 33 of the rods 32 fit i slidably in said cylindrical bores of the respective iiange 3l. As shown in Fig. 4, a compression spring 35 is located in each said bore of flange 3|. One end of each compression spring 35 abuts a respective collar 33. The other end of each compression spring 35 abuts the end-wall of the respective bore of flange 3i. Each compression spring 35 therefore biases the respective rod 32, laterally outwardly, towards an upright I.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 21 show a clamping-mount 38. which is xed to each pair of rods 32. Each clamping-mount 38 is located laterally inwardly relative to its holder 24. As shown in Fig, 21, each clamping-mount 33 has respective hubs 39 and 39A, which have cylindrical bores, in which the respective rods 32 are located. Said hubs 39 and 39A are fixed detachably to the respective rods 32, in any suitable manner. Each clampingmount 38 may normally abut the respective transverse face of the respective holder 24, so that each spring 35 is maintained under initial biasing compression. Each clamping-mount 38 moves laterally in unison with its respective two rods 32.

As shown in Fig,l 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 21, each clamping-mount 33 is provided with a pair of depending lugs 45 and 45A, which have aligned lateral bores. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, a pivot pin 46 is turnably located in the bores of each pair of said lugs 45 and 45A.

Fig. 22 shows a trigger 41, which has a notched 51 head43 and a tai148.

zontal position which is shown in :brokenlinesinz Fig, 4. A conventional stop. may IbeY provided, in order to prevent each trigger 41irom turning-be yond said horizontal position..

Referring to Fig. 4, wheneach clamping-mount` 38-is.in.the inoperative position. which is `shown in fulllines intheflower partici Fig, tandto which it is biasedby. therespective` two springs. 3.5the respectivetrgger abuts the respective. holder 24, s that the respective trigger t!! iszheld in. theiinclined positionwhich is shown. inFig'. 4 in .full.lines, with. the ,-respcctiveltail 48 below therespectve. head 49.

Fig. 4. showsone of. a laterally. alined pair of cam-.members l, each .of which is providedwith,

a lower planar face 56 which is. upwardly and inwardly laterally inclined; with an intermediate verticalplanar .face 53, and with-atop planar facel 52 which is inclined reversely tot bottom planar face 50.. The provision ofthe top planar face 52 is optional.

These cam-faces 5U'. 53, and 52 are provided in a. recessed end-face `of each. cam-member 5l.

The bottom of the setting station begins at.

thehorizontal lateral` line which connects the bottoms oi the lower planar; faces 5.0.

As shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5, and Fig. 2l, each clamping-mount. 38 has.- an` upstanding vertical arm4, which is .provided with a vertical recess 4l, whose.end-wall.has.a.hole.44. Fig. 20. shows one oi tbe angular clampingsprings 42. Each clamping spring42has ar perforated leg 43, which. t

its in a respective recess 4|. Asuitable bolt or -rivet clamps each clamping spring 42 to its respective arm 45.. The. bent. clamping springsAZ. extend laterally` inwardly. towards each other,. from their arms 40.

The rods 32. are moved to the broken line oper ative position shown in Fig..4., below` the loadingstation at ,whicha tray. is loadedon four respective rods 32. loaded, the respective. two springs 42=are already in clamping position. These springs 4.2 `are bentl awayfromfeach other when a trayy isloadedbysliding it. horizontally into positiornso thatsaid. twobent springs 42 then resiliently.. clampfthe.

respective tray.

At the bottom of; the setting` station, the

rounded. ends32C of the respective rods 32 con.-A tact with the inwardly` inclinedcamffaces 50. so that the respective rodsY 32` of the respectivey holders 24 are pushed laterally inwardly towards.

each other, against the'forceof the four respective biasing springs 35,4 while the twofront runsof.

the conveyor` chains are movedupwardly. The broken-1ine position of the rod 32 in Fig. 4 shows the limit of its respective lateral inward. move-1 ment. Each trigger 41 iszthus freed from the respective holder 24, so that each trigger is turnedto and held in the horizontal position. which is` shown inbreken lines in Fig. 4; by the biasing force ofgravity'or a spring. The end-walljotthef tail 48 of'each trigger '-is then. very close to the. respective planar transverse wall of the respective holder 24. When the rods 32rise above the tops ofithe'vertical faces 53, the springs 35 laterally. The end-facez outwardly force the four rods 32. of each tail 48` is thus firmly Apressed againstthe respective holder 24, so that the triggers 41. re.-V main in the operative .positions whichare. in.l

dicated. by broken lines in Fig, 4, untiltheare- Each said` trigger.' 41. is-v xeditoa respective-pivot pin 46. Each trigger; 41;v is biased bygr-avity. or by a-springtoftheihori` Hence, when a tray is thus.

spective; .tray-` isiunloadedi The .triggersl caribe.-

cylindrical bores 6.5, and.hub 80l hasa cylindrical. bore 81, which is located:centrally, between. legs? Fig. 16.shows the couplingmember whichis. used in. the second. embodiment. This is-similar.. to. the coupling; member 25. of the rst embodi ment. shank 8.3, a .threaded and reduced end-portion 85; and bores 6 l; The shank 83 is located in the bore 8| of. a. respective. hub 60, so that `therespectivel holder frame 63 is freely turnable relative to. shankV 83. This` turnable assembly is maintained by a nut whichisscrewed uponfend-portion. 85..

Thefcoupling member. 60' isV clamped to` a linl:V

which consists ofa pair` of members 26B, asainthe first embodiment In each embodiment, theA respective holder. canbe. turnably mounted. upon a pivot which turnably connects a pair of links` ofthe conveyor chain.

Figs. 8 and 9 showa supporting frame 55; whichis pivoted-to, frame 63, by means of a pivotrpinV Swhich is located in-the.- bores 65 of` hubs-.64,- and inthe transversely alined bores Bof bear ings 5Sof1frame 55. A biasing compression spring` 68 has its; ends located in respective recesses 62 and ..6 9. offrames 55-and 63.

Each supportingframe 55 is` provided withV a.

pair of supporting lugs 58, for supporting the respective part of` the respectivetrayY T. Each frame 55'also. has a. pairrof rolls 15 turnably: mounted on'studs which are fixed to said-frame. 55.? Each frame 55 is; also provided with depend-` ing lugs. 56, whichhave alined bores 51. The'latch'- 1| whichzis shown in Fig. 17 has avheadz13rand a tail 12, anda bore 14. A latch 1| ispivotally connectedztoeachipair of lugs 55, by-meansota pivot` pin-.which islocated intherespective bore 14, and.Y

inithe'respective bores 51.

As in the first embodiment, gravity or a spring-.-

biases each 1atch1lto a horizontal position, said position beinglshown in full lines in Fig. '7. A stop is provided to prevent eachlatch 1I from turning beyondsaid horizontal position.

The rolls 15 ride against .thecam faces 50, 3` and 52 which are shown in Fig. 4, because the cam-members5l are also used in the secondem bodiment.v

Below the locking station and the loading station in the frontruns `of the chains, the; position of each supporting frame55frelative to its holder frame 63 is shown in broken lines'inFig. 7.

At the loadingxstation; each supporting' frameV 55 is located as shown. inl full lines. in Fig; 1. Hence, when a ti'ay1is: slid horizontally into position; the -two respective supportingfframes 55 have been pre-set-into the full-lineposition of Figf'l.

As thexfront runs of the chains are vmoved-'up-A wardly, the-two' `pairs ofy rolls 15 Contact with lthe two. carnffaces` 50,.so that. the top ofeachi supporting frame 55 is forced"towards"theftop of. its companion holderframe. 63,.th11's com:l

Coupling member 60. has aV cylindrical.

pressing the two respective springs 68. This per-` mits each respective latch'iI to turn to the full line position shown in Fig. 7. When the rolls 'I5 pass above the cam-faces I), the end-walls of the tails l2 of the triggers II abut the inserts 63B of the frames 63, so that each frame 55 is held locked in the-full-line vpick-up position of Fig'. 7.

Each-tray is held clamped between a pair of supporting frames 55. For this purpose, each supporting frame 55 can optionally be provided with a clamping spring of the type shown-in Fig. 20.

Figl illustrates the automatic unloading and stacking of the trays, at the rear vertical runs of thefchains ZIJ and 20A. The top tray of the previously stacked, vertical pile of trays is shown in position A. The position of the next tray, whichis to beA released from the two respective supporting frames 55,is indicated by the reference letter B. As the two respective frames 55 are lowered to the unloading position, the heads 13 of the two respective triggers II strike against the transverse edges of the tray in the A position. -Each trigger 'II is thus turned to the inclinedy position, which lis illustrated in Fig. 7. Each compression spring 68 and the force of gravity will then turn the respective supporting frame 55 to the broken-line release position which is shown in Fig. 7, so that the tray in the B position willv be released from the four respective lugsv. Each tray is thus piled on top of the vertical pile of trays, with little or no shock. When the bottom tray of the pile is to be released from the two respective frames 55, the heads I3 of the t'wo respective triggers 'il will strike against the transverse edges of the unloading or receiving platform on which the trays are vertically stacked. Said platform can be of smaller dimensions than the trays, so that the first or bottom tray is unloaded on said platform. without moving the supporting frames 55 to said broken-line position.

In order to unload the trays from the rods 32, in the first embodiment, the heads 49 of triggers 4'! strike against Vthe respective transverse edges of the last-unloaded tray. This turns, the triggers 41 to theirY inclined positions, so that compression springs Scan move the rods 32 to their release positions, in which said rods 32 release the respective tray. As in the second embodiment, the rods 32 can be maintained in their inner positions, in unloading'the bottom tray of the stack.

Fig. 2 shows an electric motor H which has a shaft M@ Said shaft M is co-upled by pulley 9, belt 8, and pulley 5, to the high-speed shaft of a speed-reducing mechanism which is located in casing 3. This speed-reducing mechanism is not shown, because it is conventional` and wellknown per se. Said speed-reducing mechanism has a slow-speed shaft 3A, whose ends project from casing 3.

Slow-speed shaft 3A is coupled to shaft I8 by 'sprockets I5 and Il and chain I5.

The trays T are fed to the front ascending runs of the conveyer chains 2li and 20A, by conventional feeding mechanism which includes an endless feed-belt 16. Said feed-belt 'I6 is located on two pulleys. The shaft of one of said pulleys has a sprocket I4, which is coupled `by chain I2 to sprocket 1V of slow-speed shaft 3A.

Said feed-mechanism has the conventional movable stop 16A, which is moved down in order to permit a tray T to be fed upon the conveyer chains V.by the frictional drive of belt 1B. Said 8v stop 16A is then moved up, in order to prevent the feeding of the next tray. This stop 16A is moved up-and-down at recurrent intervals, in the usual manner.

The feeding mechanism also includes the usual fixed stops 16B, which prevents the over-feeding of a tray T, so that each tray T is fed into proper position at the loading station.

After the stack of unloaded trays has reached a predetermined height, the machine automatically pushes said stack of trays off the unloading or receiving platform, to a conveyer 'of any suitable type.

For this purpose, I provide a single-revolution clutch IIA of any conventional type, such as the Hilliard single-revolution clutch. This singlerevolution clutch IIA includes a sprocket II, which is coupled to slow-speed shaft 3A by chain I and sprocket 6.

When clutch IIA is tripped, it moves the pusher-arm IIB in a single reciprocation. The pusher-arm IIB is pivotally connected to a pusher 541 When the clutch I iA is thus tripped, pusher 54 is moved to the right of its position which i's shown in Fig. 2, in order to push the stack of piled trays off the unloading platform. and pusher 5d is then moved back to said position, and its movement is then stopped until clutch I IA is again tripped.

Fig. 1 shows the location of a switch S which controls the single-revolution clutch IIA. When switch S is closed, said clutch IIA is tripped', in order to impart a single reciprocation to pusher 54, as previously stated. Switch S is closed when its arm Sa is moved to touch contact Sb, by one of the descending rods 32.

Referring to the rst embodiment, as each tray T is unloaded, the respective four rods 32 are released by the respective two triggers 41, so that said four rods 32 are moved to their fullline positions which are shown in Fig. 4, by the respective four compression springs 35. This movement is transverse to the plane of the paper in Fig. 1.

Switch S is located at a suitable height above the unloading platform, so that when the top tray of the stack is unloaded upon the top of said stack, a respective rod 32 will close switch S, as the top tray is unloaded from the conveyer chains to the top of the stack.

Immediately after said top tray is thus deposited upon the top of the stack, the one-revolution clutch IIA is tripped, so that the pile of stacked trays is pushed off the unloading platform.

The arm Sa of switch S is biased to the circuit-opening position, 'so that it Will open the control circuit of clutch IIA, as soon as the respective rod 32 is moved below its switch-actuating position.

Said switch S and its control circuit are conventional per se, so that they require no detailed illustration.

Since the switch S is operated only once, during each removal of a pile of stacked trays, there is minimum Isparking at the contact Sb of said switch.

In the second embodiment, the switch S is operated by the movement of a holding frame 55 to the release position which is shown in broken lines in Fig. 7, when said frame 55 and its companion frame deposit the top tray of a stack, upon the top of said stack.

I have disclosed preferred illustrative embodiments of my invention, but numerous changes and omissions and additions can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention includes the sub-combinations disclosed herein, in addition to the entire mechanism.

In each embodiment, the ascending and parallel vertical runs of the conveyer chains have respective pairs of holders which are directed laterally towards each other between said runs. Each holder comprises a member 24 or 63 which is connected to the respective run, and movable supporting means 32 cr 55. The supporting means S2 or 55 of one run are movable laterally towards and away from the other respective run. The supporting means 32 and 55 are biased to inoperative posi-tion by respective springs 35 and 68. The machine has automatic setting means, exemplified by the Cam members 5I but not limited thereto, which set the movable supporting means to operative position below the loading station. Each said holder has automatic means for maintaining the respective supporting means in operative position, as exemplified by a latch which is movably connected to the respective holder and which is biased to operative position. In the illustrations disclosed herein, each latch is pivotally associated with the respective supporting means, even though there is no direct pivotal connection between the supporting means and the latch. Each latch is moved back into inoperative position when an upward force is exerted thereon.

I claim:

1. In a machine for stacking objects, a pair of endless conveyor chains which have respective ascending runs which are parallel to each other, said machine having a loading station between the tops and bottoms of said ascending runs, means to actuate said chains in unison, said chains having respective pairs of holders, said holders being directed laterally towards each other between said runs, each said holder comprising a member which is connected to the respective run and movable supporting means which are movable laterally towards and away from the other respective run, the movable supporting members of each said pair being constructed and shaped to hold a respective object intermediate said runs when said supporting means are in operative position, biasing means which bias said supporting means to inoperative position, said machine having automatic setting means which are operative to force said supporting means into operative position below said loading station so that said supporting means pick up said object at said loading station, each said holder having automatic means for maintaining the respective supporting means in operative position, said automatic means comprising a latch which is movably connected to the respective holder, said latch being biased to move into operative position and being moved into operative position when said supporting means are moved to operative position, each said latch being moved to its inoperative position when an upward force is exerted thereon.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which each said latch is pivotally associated with said supporting means; each said latch being located intermediate the respective holder and its respective supporting means when said latch is in operative position, each said latch then holding the respective supporting means against the biasing means which bias the respective supporting means to inoperative position.

3. In a machine for stacking objects, endless conveyor means which have an ascending portion and a descending portion, actuating means to actuate said conveyor means in an endless path, said machine having a loading station at said ascending portions, said machine having pick-up holder-devices for picking up the objects, said holder-devices being arranged in laterally alined pairs, each holder-device comprising a holder member which is connected to said conveyor means and supporting means which are movable relative to the respective holder-member, said supporting means being laterally movable towards each other to operative positions to pick up an object and being laterally movable away from each other to inoperative positions to release the respective picked-up object, said supporting means being biased to inoperative position, automatic setting means which actuate said supporting means to operative position below said loading station so that each pair of holder-devices picks up a respective object at said loading station, each said holder-device having a latch which is movable relative to the respective holder-device and which is biased to latching position to hold the respective supporting means in operative position when said supporting means are thus actuated into operative position, an unloading support for supporting the released and stacked objects, said support being located at said descending portions, each said latch being located to contact with the next preceding object which is supported on said unloading support, said contact moving said latch to unlatching position.

4. A machine according to claim 3 which has a pusher for pushing the stacked objects 01T said unloading support, said machine having push mechanism for actuating said pusher, said push mechanism having a control member which is located above said unloading support, said push mechanism being actuated to operate said pusher in a, single stroke when said control member is actuated, said control member being located to be actuated by a respective supporting means when said respective supporting means is moved to inoiperlative position to release the top object of said s ac 5. In a stacking machine, the sub-combination of a conveyer, a holder-device connected to said conveyer, said holder-device comprising a holder member which is connected to said conveyer and a supporting member which is movably connected to said holder member, said supporting member being movable relative to said holder member to an operative supporting position and being also movable relative to said holder member to an inoperative position, said supportingmember being biased to its inoperative position, a latch movably associated with said supporting member so that said latch and said supporting member are movable in unison relative to said holding member, said latch being biased to an operative latching position in which it abuts said holder-member to maintain said supporting member in predetermined operative position relative to said holder-member.

STEPHEN P. MA'I'HERS. 

